Almost There

It's so crazy to think that the little man will be here in about a month and a half! My friend Nami and I just finished his nursery so I feel a little better prepared for his arrival. Since Adam is rarely home, I had so much anxiety about having it done before the baby arrived. I had visions of being on bed rest at 32 weeks with the nursery only half finished. But now it's all ready for my little dude!


I have my 34 week prenatal appointment next Friday to do the group b strep culture and a quick US to check the baby's position. I guess they start checking for dilation and effacement at this appointment as well. The baby was already head down at 28 weeks, and head down at my US last week, so I'm pretty sure he'll stay in that position. I only worry because I was breech... And I really don't want a c-section.

After this appointment I'm also supposed to get my bags ready for the hospital. Yikes! That means this thing is really gonna happen. It's weird because I'm not terribly worried about the labor process, I feel fairly prepared for it. Don't worry, I know what I've gotten myself into.

xo,

Lauren

What a Monday!

I woke up to the wonderful news that my friend gave birth to a perfect 8lb boy at 2am this morning. We've all been anxiously anticipating this boy, whose due date was last Friday, so I was uber happy to get the e-mail at 4am. She went into the hospital at 2pm yesterday afternoon with contractions at 5 minutes. I guess 12 hours of labor is pretty decent, especially when the outcome is a healthy baby. Welcome to the world little man!

This might sound weird, but I was a little sad when I got the news that she went into the hospital because I'm loving the pregnancy network I have right now. So many pregnant ladies! It's a symbol of hope that surrounds me right now and it's so comforting. But right after I got her news I received an email that another friend of mine is expecting! I'm so pleased by it I can hardly stand it.

Children really are a symbol of hope so having pregnant women around is such a blessing.

As for me, I'm hanging in there at 31 weeks. He's really been moving a lot, like crazy actually. I call it disco dancing because I can visualize the Saturday Night Fever move, legs scrambling and one hand poking. It's kinda funny. My friend Leah refers to it as the "starfish" , where all the appendages poke you in different places simultaneously. I don't think my little guy is coordinated enough for that, but that runs in the family.

He's so strong now too, sometimes I stop and say "Whoa!!!" like Joey Lawrence because he's just kneed me right in the belly button or given me a swift kick to the ribs. And he's so big now! At my last appointment they said he was measuring about 2 weeks ahead of schedule so although I'm at 31 weeks, he's measuring 33 weeks. We'll see if that's still the case when I go in for my ultrasound next week. At this rate I'm going to give birth to a month old kid! Nightmare! At least he's healthy and active, that's all I care about right now.

xo,

Lauren

Less than 10 weeks to go

It really seems like things are moving right along now. The first half of pregnancy was filled with worry and anticipation for me. When I was finally to the middle of my second trimester things started to calm down a bit, my worries were assuaged, but it also seemed like time was at a near standstill. And now life is a whirlwind.

I had my first baby shower this weekend and it was perfect. My mother threw a small shower down in Orange County where I, pretty much, grew up. Great food, great friends, and GREAT presents. It was so much fun. I feel like I already have most of the baby stuff I need from all of my incredibly generous friends.

This week I begin my child birth classes which continue for the next few weeks and I'm really interested to find out what the curriculum is. Do we watch old videos of women giving birth that have never groomed their nethers? I gather from the description that there will be some breathing exercises and an emphasis on the role of the coach. How do they stretch that into 8 hours?

After the birthing classes I have lactation classes and another baby shower, which seems a little excessive at this point, but I'm looking forward to celebrating with all my friends. My first free weekend will be April 17th. I will be 36 weeks at that point! Realistically, I could be a mother by then... Hopefully the baby will hold out til May, but we'll see.

Custom Quilt

So this is just a quick blurb but I had a custom quilt created for my little peanut by Tiffany over at Li'l Bumpkin. I gave her near complete creative license and she did an amazing job! It's exactly what I wanted and will go perfectly in my primary colored nursery.


Look at these fabrics! How awesome are the squirrels? Even Adam is smitten with it.

Exhaustion

I am so tired! This is the first time in my pregnancy that I've felt such utter exhaustion. I almost called in sick to work because I just wanted to put my swollen feet up and rest all day. There's just been so much going on and there is no end in sight.

It seems like the last trimester should be a time for rest and relaxation but it's the busiest of all when you have the least amount of energy. I mean I have 2 baby showers coming up, all the birth education classes, as well as newborn education classes and lactation classes, it's nuts. Then there are all the extra doctor visits since at 28 weeks most women are directed to see the doctor bi-monthly. And I have to go to my high risk OB as well on alternate weeks, so it's like I'm at the GD doctor all the time. It's not so much that I'm feeling sorry for myself, because I'm loving every second of this pregnancy, I'm just tired and whiny.

Then there's getting all the layette and the nursery ready, which I have to admit, is one of the best parts of the pregnancy. It too can be exhausting, but it is so rewarding to see the transformation of space. So crazy that it will hold a new life in just over 2 months. It's getting close to being ready. I'll post some photos when I apply the final touches.